Baljit to challenge Teng

GEORGE TOWN (Sept 8, 2013): It will be a straight fight for the top post in Penang Gerakan between former Barisan Nasional chairman Teng Chang Yeow and the party's state legal and human rights bureau chief Baljit Singh.

"Both are new contestants," Chin said today at the nomination day for the state chairman, committee and national delegates at the Penang Gerakan headquarters.

Chin added that outgoing chairman Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan could not defend his post as he did not contest the state division post as required.

However, Hock Nan and veteran party member AR Velu are among eight nominees for the five state representatives at the national delegates' conference on Oct 26.

Chin said 14 candidates are making a bid for the six-member state committee. Two are incumbents – Dr Lim Boon Ben and Teoh Hang Chong – while others include former state party secretary Goh Kheng Sneah, state Wanita Gerakan Chief Ng Siew Lai and former youth deputy chief H'ng Khoon Leng.

Chang Yeow, who is also the former Gerakan secretary-general and former Padang Kota assemblyman, later told reporters that it will be a tough task to rejuvenate the party.

"We need party veterans and long-time members, and young and new members to come together and strengthen the party.

"We may not see eye-to-eye, but we are like a family," he said, adding that members may have different views, "but it is part and parcel of life".

Asked whether he will run for a national post, Chang Yeow said he is ready to stand for any post "if it can help rejuvenate the party."

Baljit could not be present at the nomination as he was in Kuala Lumpur, but is scheduled to hold a press conference later in the day.